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Naples Dilemma -- Any suggestions?

We are two senior ladies arriving at Naples Airport at 2:50 PM on Sun., Sept. 30th. We are leaving early Wed. morning so we have very little time to do the things we want to do: See the Archaeological Museum in Naples, see Herculaneum, and take the Amalfi Coast drive.
The museum is closed on Tues. so we had planned to do the Amalfi Coast drive this day. However, right now there is a 50% chance of rain so we could do the drive on Monday instead.-- But this would not give us a chance to see the museum unless we could manage to see it on Sunday, the day we arrive.
We could take a taxi from the airport and get to the museum, hopefully, before 4:00 PM. I know that there are several places to leave your luggage around the city, but I don't which would be the closest to the museum.
The other problem would be how to get to Sorrento. It looks like the last ferry leaves too early, and I am somewhat apprehensive about taking the Circumvesuviana train in the evening and especially with luggage with us. RS has warnings about doing this. Also, if the taxi took us to pick up our luggage and then back to the airport, I think the last bus for Sorrento will have already left. Thank you in advance for any suggestions. They will be greatly appreciated!!
We are leaving for Europe tomorrow.

Posted by
6862 posts

The Circumvesuviana should be fine, as long as you are mindful of your belongings and your surroundings. It has a reputation that is largely unjustified. Yes, there may be pickpockets - just like many other places in Europe. It looks scary because it's not kept pretty for tourists - it's a commuter service, like New York City subways (which also have pickpockets and look scary to outsiders). Use your common sense (and money belt) and you will be fine on the Circumvesuviana.

Posted by
16695 posts

The other problem would be how to get to Sorrento.

A question, Franci? Are you not staying in Naples from Sunday to Wed. morning?. It's unclear where Sorrento falls in your itinerary. Is that where you're going after Naples and if so, for how long? Or are you headed elsewhere Wed. morning?

I'm curious because exploring the Amalfi is more efficiently done from Sorrento as it's closer.

Posted by
1038 posts

Franci, to extent you need to play it "a little bit by ear". Trying to predict the weather chances of rain etc is going to drive you bonkers. Make your plan and stick to it. Know what you would drop from the your itinerary if necessary. As for the Circumvesuviana, as David said just watch your belongings and use your money belt. Enjoy your trip.

Posted by
28436 posts

If you are arriving in Naples after an overnight flight, I think you're unlikely to be in museum-going condition that day. However, if by some miracle you're both wide awake upon arrival, there certainly would be no harm in running over there.

One possibility is to get to Napoli Central rail station (there's probably frequent, inexpensive public transportation from the airport, but I haven't researched that) and use the KiPoint luggage-storage service there. Then take the Metro to the Cavour stop, which is roughly 1/4 mile from the museum. The entire distance from Napoli Centrale to the museum is about 1-1/2 miles, so a taxi is an option, but I am not up to date on the honesty of Neapolitan taxi drivers. I've been overcharged several times when taking taxis away from train stations, so I try to avoid doing that.

There's also a Stow Your Bags operation at Via Venezia 64, but that really isn't any closer to the museum, and having the bags at the train station will be more convenient at the end of the day when you head to Sorrento.

As for the weather, in my experience forecasters are a lot more accurate about temperature than about precipitation. Also, Tuesday is six days away, and I wouldn't pay any attention to precipitation forecasts that far out. For example, Accuweather says "partly sunny" on Tuesday and "a bit of morning rain" on Wednesday. Five different websites might give you five different predictions.

One thing I often do is ask my hotel receptionist what website he or she uses to check weather forecasts. The local websites seem a bit more accurate than the US-based ones (just my impression). The longer you can wait to make the decision, the better.

Posted by
6862 posts

If you are arriving in Naples after an overnight flight, I think you're unlikely to be in museum-going condition that day...

I agree. I had assumed they were flying in from someplace else in Europe. I made that assumption based on the stated fact that they would only be in the Naples/Sorrento/Amalfi area for just 4 days, figuring this was part of a larger trip. I had not considered that Naples might be their first destination in Europe (there are not many, but there are a few direct flights to Naples from North America).

acraven is certainly right though: if this is their first arrival in Europe coming off a redeye, then they would need to dial down their expectations for the rest of that day.

Posted by
11671 posts

Confused. Aren’t you staying in Naples? Leave
luggage at your hotel’s front desk if you can’t check in.

Posted by
28436 posts

David, your assumption may well be right. I just made my usual post, warning about post-redeye activities!

I'm pretty sure Naples is just a brief stop to try to see the museum before moving on to Sorrento the same day, but I could be wrong about that, too.

Posted by
5697 posts

And when does Herculaneum fit into this schedule ?
Will you be hiring a car with driver for the Amalfi coast, or taking the bus ?

Posted by
1060 posts

You’re right, you don’t have much time. Not knowing much about your plans for the Amalfi Coast drive, I would say stick to your plans and roll the dice. When they say 50% chance of rain, that’s kind of extrapolated over the day. So, you may see some rain for part of the day. If you’re in a car, what’s the difference? A one day drive isn’t super ideal to begin with, so I would just try to enjoy it as much as you can. Fingers crossed! I wouldn’t skip the Museum, or try to shoehorn it into your arrival day. Be sure to see Capella San Servo nearby the Museum. Good luck, and enjoy!

Posted by
8024 posts

The Circumvesuviana (download a schedule, although you just show up and take the next train ... ) doesn't run "at night". Herculaneum may be too far from the train station to go there with your luggage, if you are not checked into a hotel yet. Are you skipping Pompeii? How (car service, bus, tour in a van) are you doing "the Amalfi Coast drive"?

As noted, you will get better advice if you give the cities and nights of all your hotel stays, and your home country.

Posted by
16695 posts

The Circumvesuviana (download a schedule, although you just show up
and take the next train ... ) doesn't run "at night".

Yes it does. Currently the last train out of Naples Garibaldi leaves at 21:41 (9:41). That's "night", right?
But it looks like there are a lot of outstanding questions which could use some answers to provide the best help?

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule